Kubra was talking to Zara on the call, discussing about Hayder and Hyra.

"Hyra ko bhi toh koshish karni chahiye na, Hayder bhai toh shuru se aise hain." Zara told her, carelessly.

(Hyra should also try. Hayder bhai is like this from start.)

"Zara, insan koshish waha karta hai jaha umeed ho. Hayder bhai ke gusse se toh mujhe itna darr lagta jab ki woh mujhe datte bhi nahi. Hyra ne toh hamesha se unki daat suni hai, ab shadi ke baad bhi wahi behaviour hai unka toh kaise woh koi koshish kare?"

(Zara, people try where there is hope. I am so scared of Hayder bhai's anger even though he doesn't scold me. Hyra has always listened to him scold her, and even after marriage, his behavior is the same. How can she make any effort?)

"And we can not ignore the fact they both were forced for this marriage. Hyra toh chalo choti hai, Hayder bhai ko samajhna chahiye." Kubra was not at all in her brother's favour. She really felt bad for the poor girl.

(Hyra is young, Hayder bhai should understand these things.)

"Toh fir? Hayder bhai se baat karogi tum?" Zara asked,

(Then? You will talk to Hayder bhai?"

"Pagal ho? Marna thori hai."

(Are you crazy? I don't wish to die.)

"Toh?"

(Then?)

"Zara, maine issi liye toh tumhe call ki tum koi idea do."

(Zara, I called you so you can give me some ideas.)

"Main toh wahi kahungi, Hyra koshish kare. Dekho, Hayder bhai badalne se rahe, Hyra se kaho wahi thori himmati bane, Unke gusse se darrna band kare."

(I will say the same things, Hyra should try. See, Hayder bhai isn't gonna change, so Hyra should show some courage, she shouldn't be afraid of his anger.)

"Sahi keh rahi. Hyra ko apna darr khatam karna hoga." Kubra nods her head, same time, Shahzaib knocks on her bedroom door and informed her that Hanif Mirza is calling them.

(You are right. Hyra should show some courage.)

"Main baad mein call karti hoon." Saying this, Kubra disconnected the call.

(I will call you later.)

"Zara thi?" Shahzaib asked as they started walking to Hanif Mirza's room. Kubra nods her head.

(Was it Zara?)

Shahzaib didn't ask anything further as they have reached Hanif Mirza's room.

•••

"Haw! Ek toh galti unki, uppar se unhone data bhi tumhe?" Putting her hand on her waist, Uswa asked to Hyra when Hyra told her the sad story of pasta.

(Haw! It was his fault, and he is the one who scolded you?)

"Tumhe unhe datna chahiye tha." Uswa suggested.

(You should have scolded him.)

"Apni kabar aap banau?" Hyra asked in return.

(You want me to dig my own grave?)

"Waise yeh Hayder bhai ke bohot nakhre ho rahe hain. Pani sar ke uppar se chala gaya. Pehle toh chalo yeh sochke maaf kar deti thi ki Hayder bhai hain konsa puri zindagi unki daat sunni hai, woh apne raste hum apne. Lekin ab tum dono ka rasta ek hai, sath chalna hai, yeh thori ki pure safar woh tumhe datte rahe." Uswa was talking to her ownself more than Hyra.

(By the way, Hayder bhai is throwing a lot of tantrums now. The water has gone over the head. Earlier, I used to forgive him thinking that Hayder bhai is not gonna scold us all life, he will go on his own path and we have ours. But now that your path is the same, you have to walk together. It's not right that he keeps scolding you throughout the journey.)

"Lekin hum dono kahi nahi ja rahe, kaisa safar?" Hyra become confused by Uswa's words.

(What journey? We are not going anywhere.)

"Offo, example de rahi hoon. Mummy aisi hi toh bolti hain." Smacking her forehead, Uswa said.

(I am just giving you example. That's how mummy talks.)

"Tum please mummy ki mimicry na kiya karo." Hyra joined her hands together in front of Uswa.

(Please, don't mimic mummy.)

"Achha woh chorho." Uswa put her hand in Hyra's and said. "Uske baad kya hua? Tumhe kuch kaha unhe?"

(Okay leave it.)
(What happened then? Did you scold him in return?)

"Pagal ho? Baba agaye unhone mujhe kamre mein bhej diya."

(Are you mad? Baba came and he sent me to my room.)

"Oh," Uswa put her hand under her chin. "Waise, iss cheez ka badla hume lena chahiye."

(I think we should take revenge for this.)

"Kis cheez ka?"

(For what?)

"Pasta girane ka uppar se tumhe datne ka."

(First because of him the pasta was wasted, then he scolded you.)

"Nahi nahi, mujhe nahi chahiye badla." Hyra already surrendered her weapons.

(No no, I don't want any revenge.)

"Kyu nahi chahiye? Chahiye badla. Ussi se toh insaf hoga."

(Why don't you want any revenge? I want revenge. That's how one get justice.)

"Kaisa insaf?"

(Justice for what?)

"Tumhe datne ka, budhhu."

(For scolding you, idiot.)

"Uske badle mein kuch aisa kare taki woh mujhe aur daate?" Hyra suggested

(And you want revenge by doing something which will make him scold me more?)

"Nahi datenge, mera plan full proof hai."

(He won't scold you, my plan is full proof.)

"Haan haan!" Sarcastically, Hyra nods her head. "Utna hi full proof jitna unke shampoo ki bottle mein wax cream dalne ka tha? Ya unki car kachra karne ka? Ya fir..." Hyra couldn't complete the sentence because Uswa put her hand over her mouth.

(Yeah, yeah!)
(Just like when you put wax cream in his shampoo bottle, or when you put litter on his car? Or when...)

Putting wax cream in Hayder's shampoo was Sami's idea, but Uswa and Hyra were the one who gave success to this plan. But it was lucky day for Hayder, he didn't take shower yet, but Shahzaib did, as he ran out of shampoo that day, Shahzain burrowed Hayder's shampoo.

Uswa and Hyra were sitting downstairs as if they could do no wrong, but in hurry, Uswa made a mistake. She was wearing Hyra's anklets and by mistake the bell of the anklet was broken. Hayder, who wanted to find the culprit, search his whole room and bathroom for evidence, and that bell put Hyra in trouble, but she didn't give the name of her loyal soldier to the enemy.

"Achha achha Bas bas, talented se talented admi ke bhi lows hote hain. Salman aur Shahrukh ke bhi toh flop movies hain." Removing her hands off from Hyra's mouth, Uswa told her. Hyra very maturely mimicked her, while rolling her eyes.

(Okay, okay enough. Even talented people have their lows. Salman and Shahrukh have had flop movies too.)

"Mujhe bas itna pata hai main tumhara koi sath nahi de rahi. Karti tum ho, fasti main hoon."

(All I know is that I am not gonna help you with anything. You are the one who do everything, and I always get stuck.)

"Haan toh na karo, main bhi marr nahi rahi tumhare sath ke liye. Akele kar lungi sab." Uswa got offended by Hyra's lack of trust in her.

(Okay then don't, I am not dying for your support. I will do everything by myself.)

"Uswa, rehne do. Khamakha daat parh jayegi."

(Uswa, let it, we will get Scolding.)

"Bohot darpok ho tum. Remember Shaheed Bhagat Singh ne kya kaha tha?"

(You are a coward. Remember what Bhagat Singh said?)

"Kya?"

(What?)

"Karo ya maro." Uswa said, as if trying to lit the fire of revenge in Hyra's heart. She put her fist forward, expecting Hyra to hold her hand emotionally.

(Do or die.)

"Ek toh tumhare andar pata nahi konse retired freedom fighter ki atma hai jo insaf ke liye bahar ata rehta hai." Irritatedly, Hyra slapped Uswa's hand down and muttered.

(I don't know which retired freedom fighter's soul resides within you, that you are always standing up for justice.)

"Aur dusra yeh Shaheed Bhagat Singh ne nahi kaha tha."

(And second of all, Bhagat Singh didn't say this.)

"Toh kisne kaha tha?" Confusingly, Uswa asked.

(Then who said it?)

"Neta ji ne kaha tha."

(Subash Chandra Bose said it.)

Wrong answer, it was Mahatma Gandhi who said this. But both girls were weak in history.

"Jisne bhi kaha tha. Tum mere sath ho ya nahi?" Uswa waved her hand in the air carelessly.

(Whoever said it. Are you with me or not?)

"Aur koi option hai?" Hyra could not leave Uswa alone either.

(Do I have any other option?)

Showing off her teeth, Uswa shook her head. There are no other option.

That day, three people made three different plans to teach Hayder a lesson, and that not so innocent guy was sleeping peacefully in his room, unaware of everything.

Next day was very weird, Hayder felt the air around the house was very thick, but then shrugged his shoulder, thinking maybe Dawar has left the house that's why everyone is upset. He again started reading the newspaper.

"Nashta lao, kitna time lagta hai?" Irritatedly, Shahzaib tapped his hand on the table and shouted.

(Give me breakfast, how long will it take?)

"Shahzaib, kya kar rahe ho? Aram se." Hayder scolded him.

(Shahzaib, what are you doing?)

Kubra was feeling well today, that's why even with Hyra's continuous protest, she pushed Hyra out of kitchen and made breakfast.

When Hyra and Kubra came there with breakfast, Hayder glance at them through the corner of newspaper. He has decided to hire a cook today. Kubra always refuses whenever he told her to hire a cook, but now, the situation is changed. Kubra was sick for two days, and in two days, Hyra has burnt her hands 10 times while cooking. One thing Hayder is sure of, that girl could only make a good tea. Otherwise cooking is not her thing.

"Yeh kya hai." Hayder's chain of thoughts was broken by Shahzaib's voice.

(What's this?)

Putting the newspaper down, Hayder saw Shahzaib was holding a cup while looking at Kubra with displeasure.

"Kya hua?" Kubra asked, who was now pouring tea for Hayder. Hyra was sitting beside Hanif Mirza, buttering the toast but also froze because of the way Shahzaib was speaking.

(What?)

"Kya hai kya? Chai banani nahi ati? Kaisi chai banayi hai?" Shahzaib put the cup back and asked.

(What's this? Don't you know how to make tea? What kind of tea it is?)

"Shahzaib, kaise baat kar rahe ho..." Hayder scolded Shahzaib, but his voice was put down by Kubra's voice.

(Shahzain, how are you talking to...)

"Itni problem hai toh khud bana lo na." Putting her hand over her waist, she said in irritated voice.

(If you have so much problem with it then make it yourself.)

"Lagta hai khud hi banana hoga. Kyuki itne saal mein tumne toh khana banana seekha nahi." Standing up, Shahzaib said.

(It seems like I have to make it. Because you didn't learn how to cook in these years.)

"Haan, aur woh kon hai jo jab main aloo ka paratha banau toh count karna bhool jata hai kitna khaya?"

(Yes, and who is it that one who forgets to keep count of how many aloo parathas they've eaten when I make them?)

Hayder and Hyra's eyes were going back and forth between Shahzaib and Kubra. This was the first time they are witnessing them fight. And Kubra? She never talked to anyone like this before.

"Bas karo tum dono." Hayder also stood up and said in a hard voice. His glare made Shahzaib sank low in the chair.

(Enough both of you.)

"Shahzaib, kaise baat kar rahe ho behen se? Ek toh uski tabiyat theek nahi, uppar se tum... aaj hi tum ek cook hire kar rahe ho. Aur dubara aise koi baat nahi karega iss ghar mein." He didn't feel like eating anymore, Shahzaib and Kubra's quarrel killed his hunger.

(Shahzaib, that's how you talk to your sister? She is unwell and still cooked, and you... you will hire a cook today. And no one will talk like that in this house again.)

"Apne gusse ke barey mein kya khayal hai?" Hanif Mirza grunt when he left.

(And what do you think of yourself?)

"Aaj nahi toh kal theek ho jayega sab. Aap fikar na kare, baba." Shahzaib picked his cup to drink tea and assured him. He drank the same tea and breakfast made by Kubra, as if there is nothing more tastier than it.

(Now or later he will be fine. Don't worry, baba.)

Hyra, who was maybe waiting for more fight to happen behind Hayder's back, was shocked when Kubra put a paratha in Shahzaib's plate and he started eating it. Confusingly, she looked at Hanif Mirza.

"Pareshaan na ho, yeh sab Hayder ki aqal theek karne ke liye kar rahe hain hum. Tum fikar na karo, inn dino ghar mein thora shorr hoga, par tum pareshaan na hona." Hanif Mirza advises her.

(Don't worry, we are doing this to give Hayder taste of his own medicine. You don't worry, there might be some disturbance in the house for next few days.)

Hyra become confused by this.

"It's a mirroring technique." Kubra told her about it.

Mirroring technique can be an effective tool in helping someone realize how their behavior affects others. By reflecting their behavior back to them, they may be able to see the impact it has on others and be more motivated to make a change.

This was Hanif Mirza's plan, in which he included Shahzaib and Kubra.

Hyra was still confused, but nods her head.

"Hyra! Hyra!" Hayder's loud voice came, startling her.

She quickly ran to their room.

"Ji?"

(Yes?)

"Kya hai yeh sab?" He asked, while pointing at the shirts which were throwing on the floor.

(What's this?)

"Shirts?" Helpfully, she suggested.

"Mazak mat karo, inme se kisi mein button kyu nahi." He was holding a blue shirt, which he threw on the floor and demanded. Hayder was wearing a white shirt, which upper two button undone.

(Don't joke. Why none of them have buttons?)

She has almost forgot. This was Uswa's prank to break the buttons of all his shirts. this way, he would get irritated.

"Apki shirt hai, aap jane." She was scared of his eyes, looking down, she told him. "Main thori pehenti hoon."

(You would know, that's your shirts.)

(I don't wear them.)

"Sab pata hai, yeh tumhara kiya haina?" He went to her and stood in front of her, making her jump, but she still didn't raise her head.

(I know everything. You did it right?)

"Ma... maine nahi kiya." Her throat become dry, as she spoke in low voice. Technically, she really didn't do it. It was Uswa who did it.

(I... I didn't.)

"Toh kya apne aap toot gayi sari buttons?" Hyra didn't dare to raise her head to look at him. The more he was speaking, the more she was bowing her head down to avoid looking at him.

(So, did all of the buttons break on their own?)

"Sudhar jao, Hyra." He warned her, making her flinch.

(Behave, Hyra.)

"Laiye main button taak doon." Putting her hand forward, she told him.

(Give it to me, I will stitch the button.)

"Issi wali mein lagao jo maine pehni hai." He ordered her, while standing back.

(Stitch the button in this shirt which I am wearing.)

Hyra quickly went to dresser, opening the second last drawer, she took sewing kit out.

She again went to Hayder, expecting him to give her his shirt, but when he didn't make any move, she hesitantly stood in front of him to stitch, but he was too tall for her. Looking around, Hyra took a stool and stood on it, then started stitching the button. As Hyra works, Hayder felt a ticklish sensation of the thread against his skin. They have never stood this close to each other where they could hear the heartbeat of other, or the felt their breath. Hayder didn't remove his eyes off from Hyra, who looked so small in front of his tall figure.

The room was quiet except for the sound of the needle and thread moving through the fabric. The sunlightstreaming in through the window, casting a warm glow over the room. Hyra's hand tremble as she felt his hot breath falling on her face. Hyra didn't realise when in nervousness, she pierced the needle in Hayder's chest.

"Ouch!" He quickly pulled away from her. The needle hanging on his chest because of the support of thread.

Hyra put her hands over her mouth, in fear, or to stop herself from laughing, even she don't know.

"Ek kaam nahi ata, phuad larki." Rubbing his chest, he scolded her.

(You can't do one thing, foolish girl.)

"So.. sorry." That's all she manages to say.

"Sorry!" He scoffs and left for the washroom.

"Karo ya maro." Hyra mumbles. "Karti woh hai, marti main hoon."

(Do or die.)

(She is the one who do, and I have to face everything.)

•••

How's it?

Eid Mubarak everyone (those who are celebrating it today, and in advance to those, who like me, will celebrate it tomorrow.)

-Ufaq

P.S. there isn't any proper word for phuad? I don't know, I tried to search it, but didn't find anything.